The question everyone asked at ExCel: what does good business tech really look like in 2026?

I think about software and digital tools all the time, so I always naturally think it’s the most important thing in the world. However, Alan and I were at the International Franchise Show at ExCel earlier this month and talk of tech solutions genuinely is on everyone’s lips right now. Not just for franchising, but for business in general – it really is a very exciting time to be working in this field!

We had some really fascinating conversations and learned a lot about what people are looking for these days, and just how challenging it can be to find what’s right for you.

Franchisors, business owners, and multi-site operators of all sizes are asking the same kinds of questions: how do I manage a growing network without costs spiralling out of control? How do I make sure my comms are actually landing with my target audience? How do I get a handle on my brand’s digital presence across multiple locations without it becoming a full-time job in itself?

And the big one, of course: how do I make AI actually work for my business, rather than just experiment with it?

All of these challenges are exactly why we set up the TFC Software House in the first place.

Over the past three years, we’ve invested a significant amount of time finding, testing, and curating a suite of software solutions that are genuinely best-in-class for multi-site businesses that want to both consolidate their current operations, and scale up rapidly in the future. Franchises are the obvious example of this, of course, but anyone who faces the specific challenges of running and growing a network can benefit.

Now, I’ve always kept the bar very high when it comes to what software I recommend. Every platform we work with has to solve real, recognised problems, such as the ones which came up again in conversations with clients and prospects we had during the show. Not only that, but the people and teams behind each platform have to be committed to constantly developing and improving what they’ve built. The tech landscape moves quickly, and we only work with partners who are moving just as fast, or faster.

Ziik, for example, releases a monthly product update, and that’s not unusual among our partners. These are businesses that treat their software as a living product, not a finished one. Ones who listen to their customers, are as much invested in their success as they are, and are always looking for new ways to innovate and improve.

The result is a collection of tools that covers the full spectrum of what a growing franchise or multi-site business needs: internal communications and knowledge-sharing, social media and reputation management across multiple locations, territory mapping and demographic insight, AI-powered agents for sales, support and operations, smart lead handling, franchise management, and AI-driven advertising.

As I said, franchises are perfect examples of the kinds of business who can benefit from these kinds of tools, but several of these platforms are just as powerful for any business operating across multiple sites, whether or not franchising is part of the picture.

If we met at ExCel, why don’t we continue our chat?

It was a pretty busy and hectic few days, and software solutions require a lot more thought and attention than just a quick chat can offer, so why don’t we have a longer conversation now it’s over? That way we can take a proper look at what’s actually relevant for your business at this time, what challenges you’d like to overcome, and what we can offer to help.

If you couldn’t make it to the show, or we didn’t get a chance to meet, no worries, you won’t be missing out. I’d be just as happy to get the ball rolling now with a call to understand what you need and point you in the right direction.

You can explore everything we offer in the TFC Software House here, or simply click the button below to schedule a call with me and we can take it from there.